By TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communication  

KEARNEY – Gavyn Brauer still has the email. 

Tucked away in his inbox is a message from freshman year, when a University of Nebraska at Kearney faculty member called him out after he fell asleep in class. At the time, it felt like a stern reprimand. Today, it serves as a reminder of just how far he's come. 

As Brauer prepares to address his classmates as the student speaker during Friday's summer commencement ceremony, he finds himself thinking about that moment. 

"I've definitely come a long way," he said. "I've changed a lot and grown so much in the past four-plus years." 

The North Platte native will graduate magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in political science and minors in public law and kinesiology. He plans to attend law school after spending the next year working as a paralegal at Jacobsen Orr in Kearney. 

Being selected as commencement speaker carries special meaning because it represents more than academic achievement. For Brauer, it's recognition of the person he's become. 

"I want to say I've matured, but I also know there are plenty of ways I haven't," he said with a laugh. "There have been so many transformative experiences, from athletics to classes to interactions with faculty and classmates. UNK has changed me for the better because it forced me to grow and challenged me in a lot of different ways." 

A new direction 

Brauer's path to a political science degree wasn't part of the original plan. 

He enrolled at UNK in 2021 intending to become a physical education teacher and coach. Law had long interested him, but he never imagined becoming an attorney himself. 

"When I was making the decision to come here, pursuing a career like an attorney didn't feel very realistic," he explained. 

Halfway through his junior year, he realized something was missing. 

Although he enjoyed the physical education program and respected his professors, he didn't share the same passion he saw in many of his classmates. Encouraged by his fiancée Emily Hendren, a December 2024 UNK graduate, Brauer made the difficult decision to change majors. 

"I felt like if I changed my major at that point I was going to be wasting a lot of time, money and effort," Brauer said. "But she gave me the encouragement I needed. She knew I wasn't fully invested in it, and I really needed her to give me that extra push." 

That decision changed everything. 

The UNK experience 

A conversation with political science professor Chuck Rowling opened the door to the Kearney Law Opportunities Program, which accepted Brauer despite typically selecting students before they begin college. The opportunity included a full-tuition scholarship and guaranteed admission to the University of Nebraska College of Law. 

"It was a really important conversation," Brauer said. "I think it redirected my life trajectory." 

The move also unlocked his full academic potential. 

Brauer maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA after switching majors and earned a remarkable 178 out of 180 on the Law School Admission Test, placing him above the 99th percentile. 

Rowling, the department chair, has never seen a higher score during his 14 years at UNK. 

"Gavyn is the quintessential student," Rowling said. "Yes, he is gifted intellectually and his written and oral communication skills are exceptional, but, more importantly, he just really loves to learn. He is the type of student who needs very little guidance, and his appetite for knowledge is off the charts." 

In addition to excelling in the classroom, Brauer conducted undergraduate research and participated in a field study course in Northern Ireland focusing on international affairs, human rights and international law. 

"Gavyn has really had a complete educational experience," Rowling said. "He is the poster child for what you can do as a student at UNK." 

Lessons from the mat 

Athletics helped shape Brauer as much as academics. 

A four-year member of the Loper wrestling team and two-time Class A state champion before arriving at UNK, he discovered success looked different at the collegiate level. 

"Being a relatively successful high school athlete then coming in and just getting the crap beat out of you for a couple years definitely forces you to grow," Brauer said with a smile. "It challenged me in a lot of good ways, and it also humbled me." 

"I think the biggest benefit is the relationships I got from it," he added. "Those are what I'm going to take with me for the rest of my life." 

From the beginning, UNK head wrestling coach Dalton Jensen saw someone who was going to work hard, compete and do everything necessary to set himself up for success. 

"He wanted to become the best version of himself," Jensen said. 

Although he wasn't a regular starter, Brauer became a respected teammate who brought leadership and accountability to the program. 

"When we evaluate the guys on our team, we look at all aspects of their lives, and he knocked it out of the park in every area," Jensen said. "Because of that, he added a ton of value to our program." 

The discipline he developed through wrestling now carries over to his legal career. 

Ready for what's next 

For the past two years, Brauer has worked at Jacobsen Orr in Kearney, first as a legal intern and now as a full-time paralegal while preparing for law school. The experience has only strengthened his desire to become an attorney. 

"I've loved it out there," he said. "They've been so great to me. I've learned a lot about what it's like to work in a law firm while creating professional connections. The attorneys there have really taken me under their wing and are great mentors for me, providing invaluable advice and guidance." 

Attorney Nick Ridgeway, a fellow UNK political science and wrestling alumnus, describes Brauer as hardworking, dedicated, smart, kind and personable. 

"His work product is exceptional, but he's an even better person," Ridgeway said. "We joke at the office that we would clone Gavyn if we could." 

Since joining the firm, Brauer has consistently raised the bar for himself. 

"From day one, Gavyn wanted to be challenged," Ridgeway said. "He continuously requests, receives and completes complex projects, which we normally would not give to an intern. Gavyn is very receptive to constructive criticism. This is indicative of someone who wants to accelerate their own personal and professional growth." 

Looking ahead, Ridgeway expects Brauer to continue excelling. 

"The sky is the limit for Gavyn," he said. "If we fast-forward five to 10 years, I would not be surprised to learn that Gavyn made law review, graduated at the top of his class, obtained a highly competitive judicial clerkship and hit the ground running as a legal professional and leader in his community." 

Brauer is still deciding where he'll attend law school next year. Rather than focusing on a specific destination, he's concentrating on finding the right fit and continuing the growth that began with a humbling email nearly five years ago. 

As he prepares to represent his classmates on commencement day, Brauer hopes his story reflects what being a Loper is all about. 

"You have an opportunity to make a positive impact on the community," he said. "Being positively engaged with your community and wanting to leave a positive impact on Kearney – I think that's truly what a Loper sets out to do."